Digitisation in emerging markets like India driving global STB growth

MUMBAI: The growth of the global STB market is driven by digitisation that has been taking place in developing countries such as Argentina, Brazil, China, and India since 2010, market research firm Technavio has said in their recent global set-top box (STB) market report.

The report noted that emerging markets offer opportunities for growth to vendors as the developed countries have reached saturation. The availability of affordable STBs fuels growth in the market.

The market has also announced the top five leading vendors in their market report. This research report also lists 45 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period.

According to the report, there is a high demand for pay-per-channels used by customers who use gateways and multiscreen devices. The ongoing shift to the HD format contributes to the growth of the market.

Digitisation in China, India, and Brazil contributes significantly to market growth. The ongoing shift from analog to the digital platform in China and India has created the demand for HD STBs in these countries.

Competitive vendor landscape

“The global STB market is characterized by intense competition as the market is saturated in developed countries and is expected to be stagnant in future. However, the market share of these players is declining because of the entry of new players. The market is fragmented owing to the presence of a large number of small players. The entry of new players intensifies competition and reduces the profit margins of other vendors. The players are enhancing the features of STBs and providing customised solutions to retain their market share,” said Technavio lead consumer electronics research analyst Ujjwal Doshi.

Top five STB market vendors

ARRIS International

ARRIS International offers STBs, digital video and IPTV distribution systems, broadband access infrastructure platforms, and associated data and voice equipment. The wide portfolio of the company offers end-to-end solutions that offer service providers a variety of choices to customize their approach to IP transition. The company focuses on expanding its product and solutions portfolio through organic development, partnerships, and acquisitions.

Roku focuses on manufacturing streaming entertainment devices. The first product launched by the company was designed to secure movies from Netflix and feature them on TV with the help of the Internet. The streaming players can be connected directly to the user’s TV and grant access to movies, TV shows, games, music, and extra channels.

Technicolor

Technicolor provides production, post-production, and distribution services to content writers, network service providers, and broadcasters. The company offers film processing, visual effects, and animation services along with the manufacture and distribution of digital video disks, Blu-ray disks, STB, and gateways.